The ruling ethnic Albanian party, Alliance for Albanians (AA), led by Arben Taravari, has decided to field its own candidate lists for the upcoming local elections, while maintaining its position within the broader VLEN opposition coalition.
The decision was reached during the party’s Central Presidency meeting held late Monday in Tetovo, a city with a significant Albanian population in North Macedonia.
“This has been our position since July last year. We’ve consistently pushed for running with a separate list,” Taravari told reporters, describing the decision as one made with “unprecedented unity” within the party.
Despite this move, Taravari emphasized that the party remains formally within VLEN. “We are still part of VLEN. We are just presenting our own list for local councils. If others decide differently, we’ll take our position accordingly,” he said.
VLEN is a coalition of ethnic Albanian opposition parties formed to challenge the dominance of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), the main Albanian partner in North Macedonia’s ruling coalition. AA’s recent shift comes amid internal tensions over the selection process for mayoral candidates and the division of municipalities.
No Decision Yet on Mayoral Candidates
Unlike the clear decision to present separate council lists, AA has not yet finalized its approach to mayoral races. Taravari criticized what he described as a lack of transparency and inclusivity in candidate selection within the coalition.
“We proposed a mechanism—polls, surveys—for choosing VLEN’s mayoral candidates, but that was rejected,” he said, arguing that a closed-door approach among party leaders would ultimately harm the coalition’s chances.
According to Taravari, VLEN had offered AA around 35% of municipalities, but the party has not agreed to any division for now. “For mayors, we’ll see where cooperation is possible. But for councilors, if we don’t run together, our lists will be separate,” he said.
In early April, Taravari welcomed former AA vice-president Isen Shabani—now the mayor of Vrapchishtë—back into his faction, fueling speculation that Shabani may run again in the local elections.
VLEN Partners Call for Clarity
VLEN leadership has expressed concern over AA’s latest move. Izet Mexhiti, North Macedonia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and one of VLEN’s top figures, urged the party to clarify its position.
“They need to say clearly whether they’re still with VLEN or planning to align with DUI,” Mexhiti told local media, warning that divisions within the opposition bloc could pave the way for DUI’s return to power.
He claimed that AA had received favorable terms during internal coalition negotiations. “We prioritized AA, offering 35% of the municipalities. We didn’t even get to discussing the other parties’ shares,” he said.
Mexhiti also cast doubt on the feasibility of AA running independently. “Everyone knows that running alone isn’t realistic—unless there’s hidden support from somewhere,” he added, implying possible backdoor arrangements with rival parties.
“Our Doors Are Open,” Says Taravari
Responding to criticisms from coalition partners, Taravari insisted that AA has not attacked VLEN publicly and remains open to cooperation. “We believe in political communication. The door is always open for collaboration—even with those who once left the party,” he said, referencing the return of former members like Shabani.
Still, he emphasized that the decision to run independently is final. “This is our clear position. There’s no turning back,” Taravari stated.
The move by AA adds a layer of uncertainty to North Macedonia’s local elections, expected later this year, and may reshape political dynamics among the country’s ethnic Albanian parties, who play a pivotal role in coalition-building at both local and national levels.
